Single-Phase Model for Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) Head Performance

Abstract

Summary This paper presents a new incompressible single-phase model for ESP head performance. Sachdeva (1988, 1994) and Cooper and Bosch (1966) developed models for ESP channels and for inducers, respectively. The model presented in this paper is based on 1D approximation along an ESP channel. The new derived pressure ordinary differential equation (ODE) for frictionless incompressible flow (Bird 1960) is consistent with the pump Euler equation. New models for pump frictional and shock losses have been proposed. Finally, a comparison between the predicted pump performance and the pump performances derived from the affinity law for different rotational speeds is presented. The single-phase model can predict ESP performance under different fluid viscosities and also is the basis of a gas/liquid model for ESP head performance.